The Senate has passed a bill to give legal backing to the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, in Akwa Ibom State, which was established in 2021 without an Act of Parliament.
The bill, sponsored by Akwa Ibom South Senator Ekong Sampson, passed on Thursday, October 15, after clause-by-clause consideration and a third reading. It seeks to provide a legal framework for the university’s administration and operations.
Premium Times reported the passage, citing an announcement by Sampson’s media aide, Samuel Udoma. The newspaper said the bill was expected to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Muntari Dandutse, chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, presented the committee’s report before the chamber considered the provisions. The legislative process also included a public hearing at which submissions were made in support of the bill.
FUTIA was among the federal tertiary institutions approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2021. Its pioneer academic session began in 2023/2024.
The bill’s passage comes as the university adds 12 degree programmes for the 2026/2027 academic session. A university statement signed by registrar Offiongita Nkang said the National Universities Commission conveyed approval in a letter dated September 11, 2026, after a resource verification visit.
The new courses include biomedical engineering, computer engineering, materials and metallurgical engineering, mechatronics engineering, chemistry, industrial chemistry and biotechnology. The others are environmental management technology, environmental health science, health information management, community health science and estate management.
According to the university, the approval brings its NUC-approved programmes to 36. Candidates who want to study the new courses were advised to change their course choices through JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System.
The institution said candidates who did not initially choose FUTIA as their first choice could also apply if they scored at least 160 and changed their first-choice institution to the university.
Source: Premium Times
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